WISCONSIN

BADGERS

HUSKERS TO FACE BADGERS IN BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The Nebraska Cornhuskers will play for their first Big Ten title on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis (7 p.m. on FOX). The Huskers earned the right to represent the Legends Division in the Big Ten Championship Game by finishing the regular season with six straight victories.

Nebraska brings a 10-2 overall record into the title game, including a 7-1 mark in Big Ten play, the Huskers' best league record since 2001. Included in the seven league victories was a 30-27, come-from-behind victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten opener at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 29.

Wisconsin converted a Husker fumble into a short touchdown drive for a second time with 11:46 remaining in the third quarter to take a 27-10 lead. But the Huskers would battle back by scoring the game's final 20 points, highlighted by Brett Maher's game-tying field goal with 55 seconds left in the third quarter and his game-winning kick with 9:41 remaining in the game. Nebraska out-rushed Wisconsin 259-56 in the win and out-gained the Badgers 440-295, but Wisconsin stayed close by outscoring NU 14-0 in points off turnovers.

Looking to defeat the same opponent twice in the same season for the first time since 1896 (Nebraska Wesleyan), the Huskers will make their third appearance in a conference championship game in the past four seasons on Saturday. Nebraska, which is looking to become the first FBS team to win a conference championship game in two different leagues, is hoping to win its first conference title since 1999, while also looking to secure a berth in the Rose Bowl, which would mark the program's first BCS Bowl Game since playing for the national championship in the 2002 Rose Bowl.